BROCKWAY – Affordable, convenient education with a personal touch is one of the chief reasons students are being drawn to Butler County Community College at Brockway.
BC3 @ Brockway is the only community college in Pennsylvania north of Interstate 80. It is located in part of the former Brockway Glass main office complex on McCullough Avenue.
BC3 @ Brockway will hold an open house from 6 p.m. -7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27. Those who attend will be able to tour the site, meet faculty and staff, explore academic programs and learn about financial aid.
The $25 application fee will be waived for those who apply to BC3 at the open house. Register for the open house online at bc3.edu/open-house or call 814-265-1813 for more information.
The Varischetti Family Incentive Scholarship is another reason for students to consider BC3 @ Brockway.
The scholarship is awarded to students who complete at least nine credits in a semester, maintain good academic standing with a GPA of 2.0 or higher and have completed the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Twenty-two students received awards based on their efforts in the spring 2016 semester.
They include Braydon King, a 2014 graduate of DuBois Area High School. He is the son of Jerry and Amy King.
Braydon is enrolled in the psychology program at BC3 and said he probably would not have gone to college had BC3 not been an option. “I’m glad I did!” he said.
He added that the Varischetti Scholarship “helps motivate me to do good in my classes and finish my degree.”
His hobbies and interests include modern and classic car shows and drag races at Keystone Raceway Park.
Tisha Neal is a 2007 graduate of Brockway Area High School. She is the daughter of Terri Gustafson.
Tisha is enrolled in child development and enjoys reading and adult coloring.
She said she would not be attending college if it weren’t for BC3 and added that the Varischetti Scholarship will help her pay for her books.
Kali Quagliani, daughter of Ken and Jen Quagliani, is a 2013 graduate of St. Marys Area High School. She is a criminology major. Her hobbies and interests include boating, skiing and working.
She would have to attend another school if BC3 was not available. The Varischetti Scholarship, she said, will allow her to graduate debt-free.
Richard Carlson, a 2010 graduate of DuBois Area High School, is studying business management. He is the son of Ronnie and Joy Carlson. He enjoys going to work, fishing, spending time with family and friends and rooting for the Baltimore Ravens.
“I most likely would not have finished my education,” if it weren’t for BC3, he said. “BC3@Brockway is very close, convenient and a really reasonable price.”
Of the Varischetti Scholarship, he said, “It makes it easier financially for me and one less thing for me to worry about. I can just focus on my studies.”
Madison Koren is a 2015 DuBois Area High School graduate and the daughter of Sandi and Ronald Koren. She is enrolled in general education “although I am taking quite a few psychology classes,” she said.
Her interests include art, culture, history, psychology and language.
If it weren’t for BC3, she said, “I would probably be going for a major I am not 100 percent sure on. Either that or I would not be taking any classes.”
The Varischetti Scholarship “has encouraged me to continue my education.”
BC3 @ Brockway serves Clearfield, Elk, Cameron, Jefferson and Clarion counties. The 14,000-square-foot campus includes classrooms, state-of-the-art science lab, conference room, student lounges and an outdoor patio.
Face-to-face, online and hybrid courses are available. BC3 is fully accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. Enrollment requires only a high school diploma or GED. The cost per credit ranges from $257 in the classroom to $282 online.
BC3 is helping current and prospective DuBois Business College students. Current students can transfer to one of BC3’s programs.
BC3 also accepts students in the Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) program through CareerLink.
BC3@Brockway is adding two new programs: Office Administration – Executive and Business Administration.